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APPLICATION FILED APR.3. IQIB- RENEWED FEB- B. I919- Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH CO. WASHINGTON, D. C.

F. A. WALKER.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1918. RENEWED FEB. 8. i919.

Patented Sept. 2 ,1919.

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rm: cnuvmnm PLANOURAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

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FOREST ALLEN WALKER, 0F POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-THIRD TO W. A. LEAQH, OF POPLAB, BLUFF, MISSOURI.

CRATE.

Application filed April 3, 1918, Serial No. 226,470.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fonnsr A. l/VALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poplar Bluff, in the county of Butler and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates of the collapsible type and is especially designed for shipping poultry.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a crate which is cheap and simple 1 to constructand designed so as towithstand rough handling in shipment and which will occupy a minimum amount of space when folded.

For the accomplishment of the purpose above stated the invention. includes the novel formation and arrangement of bottom, side, end and top sections hinged together in a manner to permit of their being compactly folded and so arranged that each of the sections coiiperate to hold one another in position when the crate is set up, a transversely disposed partition serving to hold the top and side edges extended, while the end sections are held in a fork form by the ends of the top section and an extension of the frame or pivot rods of said section, holding the end sections against movement in either direction.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate en'ibodying the present invention and illustrated in a set up position, one side section of the top of the crate being opened;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view with the top section closed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the crate folded or collapsed; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view with the parts in a position shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout several views.

The crate as is usual in inventions of this character, includes a bottom section A, side sections B, end sections C and a top section D, the latter being formed of two members 10 and 11, which are hingedly secured to the side sections B in a manner readily apparent.

The bottom section A comprises a frame 12 formed preferably of angle iron. This frame may be either formed of separate side Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919. Renewed February 8, 1919. Serial No. 275,853.

and end members suitably secured together, or of a single piece. Secured within the frame is a preferably wooden bottom 18, the side edges of the frame extending above the top surface of this bottom.

Hingedly secured to the ends of the frame 12, bymeans of hinged rods 14, are the side sections B, which comprise upper and lower bars 15 and end bars 16, which form the frame. This frame may be covered by a suitable wire mesh, or by means of the intermediate bars 17 suitably spaced apart and having their ends engaged around and secured to each ofthe bars 15.

Hingedly secured along the upper edges of each of the side sections B, by means of a hinge rod 18, is one member 19 of the top section D, these members being each in the form of a frame covered by suitable wire mesh. Extending from the adjacent edge of each of the members 19 of the top section D, are loops 20, the loops of one member being adapted to aline with the loops of the opposite member, for the reception of a locking rod 21. The hingerods 18 which constitute one side of the frame of each of the members 19, extend beyond the ends of the said members and are spaced therefrom as shown at 22, to provide in conjunction with the ends of the frame, forks, for the reception of the upper corners of each of the end sections 0, so that the said section when in set up position will be held against movement in either directions.

These end section 0 are similar in construction to the side sections D, and com prise upper and lower bars 23, end bars 24 and intermediate bars 25. The end memhere are pivotally secured to the side members of the frame 12 by means of hinge bars 26, these bars being disposed beneath the bars 12 of the side sections to permit of the end sections being folded inward upon the bottom sectionbeneath said side sections.

If desired the usual opening 27 may be provided in one of the members 19 of the top section, to provide access to the interior of the crate without opening the entire member. The opening 27 is adapted to be closed by a cover 28.

The crate is divided into two separate compartments by means of a partition 29, which is disposed transversely of the crate and is hingedly secured to the bottom section' as shown at 30' In addition to dividing the crate into separate compartments, the partition 29 acts to prevent the side and top sections of the crate from folding inwardly, the location of the hinge rods 14. of the side sections being such that the upper edge of the frame 12 will limit the outward movement of the side sections. 7

It is believed that when the foregoing description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation and advantages of the invention will be apparent. 'The right is reserved to make such changes in the form and pro portion thereofas will properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

.Having described the invention what I claim is 2-.-

1. A shipping crate including a bottom section,v side and end sections hingedly secured thereto in a manner to permit of their being folded inwardly upon the bottom section, top sections hingedly secured. along the top edges of each of the side sections 1 through the medium of pivot rods, apartition hingedly secured to the bottom section and adapted to support the side and top sections in set up position and pivoted forks formed of an extension of the pivot rods and located at the ends of each of the top sections and movable therewith to receive the end sections.

, 2. A shipping crate including a bottom section, side and end sections hingedly secured thereto in a .manner to permit of their being folded inwardly upon the bottom section, topsections hingedly secured along the top edges of each of the side sections, pivot rods for securing the top sections to each of the side sections, extensions upon each end of each of said pivot rods, a partition hingedly secured to the bottom section and adapted to support the side and top sections in set up position and iorks formed by the ends of the top section and extensions of the side or pivot rods of the said sections to receive the end sections.

3. A shipping crate including a bottom section, side and end sections hingedly sccured thereto in a manner to permit of their being folded inwardly upon the bottom section, top sections hingedly secured along the top section of each of the side sections, a partition hingedly secured to the bottom section and adapted to support the side and top section in set up position, means forholding the end sections in set up position, loops extending from the adjacent edges of in the same plane with each member of the top section and a locking bar extending throughout the length of the crate and engaging said loops.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FOREST ALLEN VALKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

